Professional Policing - BA (Hons) Degree

This degree can be studied as a three-year full-time degree or a four-year full-time degree that includes a year of foundational study. Our foundation year is intended to prepare you for your subsequent years of studying, offering you the chance to strengthen your skills, knowledge and confidence.

The foundation year will be relevant to:

1. Students who aspire to enrol onto the first year of a social science-based honours degree programme, who have not achieved the standard entry requirements to enter at year one of the chosen degree.
2. Students who have not studied subjects that provide the necessary background within the scientific disciplines required to enter at year one of the chosen degree.

Find out more about the foundation year.

Please note: You will need to apply using a specific UCAS code if you wish to undertake the 4 years including foundation.

Year One / Level 4

• Law Enforcement: Key Police Powers
  This module introduces you to the key legal powers used in frontline policing. It explores the foundations of police authority, including stop and search, arrest, and detention, within the context of human rights and proportionality.
• Exploring Policing: Roles & Responsibilities
  You will examine the evolution of policing in the UK and explore the diverse roles and responsibilities of police constables today. The module promotes an understanding of professionalism, discretion, and legitimacy in the police service.
• Academic Skills for Policing
  This module supports you in developing core academic and digital skills required for success in higher education. It also introduces the principles of evidence-based policing, reflective practice, and personal development planning.
• Policing, Prosecution & the Criminal Justice System
  You will gain insight into the structure and function of the criminal justice system. This includes the role of the police in investigation, prosecution, and case file preparation, and the interplay between legal frameworks and operational practice.
• Understanding Criminal Investigations
  This module introduces the investigative process, covering key principles such as securing evidence, investigative mindsets, and the golden hour. You will learn how to apply theory to practical investigative scenarios.
• Applied Criminology
  During this module you will engage with criminological theories and apply them to policing scenarios. The module promotes an understanding of crime causation, prevention, and the relevance of criminological thinking to effective problem-solving in policing.

Year Two / Level 5

• Law Enforcement: Core Offences
  This module develops your understanding of key offences under criminal law, including assault, theft, drug offences and public order. It explores how legislation is applied in practice through arrest, charge, and evidence gathering.
• Urban, Rural & Wildlife Policing
  This module explores the principles and practice of community policing across a range of environments. You will examine how policing strategies are adapted to meet the needs of urban, rural, and coastal communities. The module includes a focus on building public trust, engaging with diverse communities, problem-solving partnerships, and tackling issues such as rural isolation and wildlife crime.
• Policing Across Borders and Beyond
  This module examines cross-border and international policing, including organised crime, trafficking, and the role of international bodies such as INTERPOL and Europol. You will explore global threats and collaborative responses.
• Vulnerability in Policing Practice
  Focusing on complex vulnerability, this module enables you to identify, assess and manage risk in relation to safeguarding, domestic abuse, mental health, and child protection. It promotes interagency working and trauma-informed practice.
• Criminal Evidence & Intelligence Gathering
  In this module you will develop an understanding of how information, intelligence, and criminal evidence support operational policing. This includes managing covert and overt sources, evidential rules, and ethical considerations in intelligence-led investigations. The module also covers forensic evidence gathering techniques, crime scene management, and the role of forensic science in building robust investigative cases.
• Evidence-Based Policing (EBP)
  This module builds on earlier research skills and explores how evidence-based approaches influence policing practice. You will learn to critically appraise research and begin designing their own small-scale projects relevant to policing.

Year Three / Level 6

• Dissertation
  You will undertake a significant piece of independent research on a topic related to policing. The module supports project planning, literature review, data collection, and critical analysis, culminating in a written dissertation. You also have the option to undertake a project involving volunteering experience, integrating practical insights with academic research.
• Policing Violent & Sexual Crime
  This module explores serious and sensitive crime types, including domestic abuse, rape, and violence against women and girls (VAWG). It examines investigative approaches, safeguarding, and multi-agency working in these high-risk areas.
• Investigating Homicide and Major Crime
  In this module you will study the structure and operation of major crime investigations, including homicide. The module introduces complex investigation strategies, the role of the Senior Investigating Officer (SIO), and decision-making under pressure.
• Cops, Corruption, and Ethical Policing
  This module critically explores issues of police misconduct, corruption, and organisational culture. You will examine how ethical leadership and professional standards can help build public trust and reform practice.
• Leadership & Professional Practice
  Designed to prepare you at the culmination of your degree for transition into police training, this module focuses on leadership in policing by examining operational and strategic leadership models, supervision, and the challenges of leading in diverse and high-pressure environments. It also addresses continuing professional development and ethical decision-making essential for effective policing practice.

Key specialist subject areas will be in line with the Policing Education Qualifications Framework (PEQF) and College of Policing requirements and will include:

• Policing context and professionalism
• Law and legal frameworks
• Operational policing skills
• Investigation and evidence gathering
• Community and partnership working
• Leadership and decision making
• Health, wellbeing and resilience
• Use of technology and digital policing

Teaching is delivered through a blend of lectures, seminars, workshops, group projects, and practical sessions in simulated environments, including our on-site Crime House. These methods are designed to promote critical thinking, applied problem-solving, decision-making, and professional communication skills tailored to policing contexts.

Modules include approximately 200 hours of study, broken down as follows:

• Seminars: 36 hours of scheduled synchronous learning to consider complex theoretical concepts and critically explore key issues.
• Online activities: 12 hours of scheduled asynchronous learning introducing key topics, definitions, and theoretical perspectives.
• Independent guided learning: 152 hours of non-contact study to develop subject knowledge and deepen understanding.

Students benefit from a comprehensive academic support structure, including personal tutors assigned at course commencement who provide continuous guidance. Tutors hold scheduled tutorial meetings and maintain an open-door policy for additional support. Further assistance is available via study skills sessions, academic writing support, and peer collaboration.

Learning is enhanced through Cardiff Metropolitan University’s Virtual Learning Environment, Moodle, which provides access to lecture materials, assessment information, digital resources, and policing-specific software, databases, and digital forensic tools. Moodle also facilitates communication between tutors and students.

Our staff team comprises experienced policing professionals and academic researchers from diverse disciplines such as law, digital technology, education, social policy, and youth work. Their combined expertise offers multiple contemporary perspectives and fosters collaborative enquiry.

Teaching takes place across Cyncoed and Llandaff campuses, providing specialist facilities such as the Crime House for immersive policing scenarios, a psychology lab, drama studio, and a Moot Courtroom to simulate criminal trials, enriching students’ practical learning experience.

Assessment methods are carefully designed to reflect the real-world demands of policing through a diverse mix of practical exercises, portfolios, presentations, professional reports, role-plays, and investigative strategies. This variety ensures students develop a broad skill set that enhances employability and prepares them for policing careers.

Emphasising practical application, assessments include tasks such as devising investigative, forensic, and intelligence strategies as a Senior Investigating Officer (SIO), evaluating case studies, and conducting evidence-based reviews. These formats provide realistic opportunities for students to demonstrate knowledge, understanding, and professional skills aligned with policing practice.

Modules feature integrated assessments like critical essays, portfolios, and live scenarios, aimed at developing expertise for the Evidence-Based Policing dissertation in the final year. Assessments are completed individually or in groups, encouraging collaboration and independent learning.

Students receive submission dates at the start of each module and an annual assessment overview grid to support effective time management. Regular formative feedback is provided through class discussions, mock exercises, and peer review, along with detailed written feedback on summative work. Academic support is available throughout to help students understand marking criteria and improve performance.

Overall, assessments are varied, engaging, and closely aligned with College of Policing standards to maximise learning and prepare students for professional practice.

The Cardiff Met BA (Hons) Professional Policing degree prepares you for a career as a police officer and is one of the recognised routes to becoming a police constable. While completing the degree does not guarantee police entry, successful graduates who join a police force within five years benefit from a shorter on-the-job training programme. Entry also requires meeting fitness, medical, and other recruitment criteria, followed by a two-year probationary period as specified in Police Regulations.

Graduates can pursue careers beyond policing in organisations such as GCHQ, the National Crime Agency, probation services, military police, and private security. Cardiff Met is proud of its strong employment record and offers further postgraduate study opportunities including MA, MPhil, PhD, and MSc Criminology & Criminal Investigations or MSc Criminal Justice & Security.

Graduates are eligible to apply to police forces across England and Wales via the PPD entry route (subject to local force requirements and vetting). The degree also opens doors to roles in civilian investigation, crime analysis, youth offending services, community safety, and criminal justice policy.

The course fosters transferable skills valued across policing and public service, including decision-making, leadership, conflict resolution, and digital literacy. Students are encouraged to enhance employability through volunteering, insight days, and roles such as Special Constables or call handlers with local forces. Many graduates progress into policing roles or pursue postgraduate study in criminology, cybercrime, or public administration.

Typical Offers

The following requirements are based on typical offers relevant to entering year 1 of the degree.

If you do not meet these entry requirements, we also offer a Foundation Year which allows progression to Year 1 upon successful completion.

• Tariff points: 104
• Contextual offer: See our contextual offers page.
• GCSE: Five GCSEs at Grade C / 4 or above to include English Language / Welsh First Language, Mathematics / Mathematics – Numeracy.
• English Language Requirement: Academic IELTS 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in all elements, or equivalent.
• A level subjects: Minimum three A levels to include grades CCC. No specific subjects required. Welsh Advanced Skills Baccalaureate considered as a third subject.
• BTEC National / Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma: MMM
• T Level: Merit.
• Access to Higher Education Diploma: No specific subjects required.
• International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma: No specific subjects required.
• Irish Leaving Certificate: 2 x H2. No specific subjects required. Higher level subjects only considered with a minimum grade H4.
• Scottish Advanced Highers: Grade DD. No specific subjects required. Scottish Highers are also considered, either on their own or in combination with Advanced Highers.

Combinations of the above qualifications are accepted if they meet our minimum requirements. If your qualifications aren’t listed, please contact Admissions or refer to the UCAS Course Search.

Further information on Overseas qualifications can be found here.

If you are a mature applicant, have relevant experience or RPL that you would like us to consider, please contact Admissions.

Entry Requirements for Police Forces

Please note that entry requirements vary between police forces. Some may require a GCSE English Language grade C/4 or above, while for others, the Pre-join Policing Degree (PPD) alone may be acceptable. In Wales, either GCSE English or Welsh Language may be required. Applicants should check with individual forces for their specific entry requirements.

Please note that a DBS check is not required for this course; however, if you choose to join a police force, you will be subject to their vetting process. Applicants should be mindful that police vetting is rigorous. If you have any concerns about vetting, we strongly advise checking individual force requirements before applying.

How to Apply

Further information on how to apply can be found here.

For general enquiries please contact the Admissions Team on 029 2041 6044 or email askadmissions@cardiffmet.ac.uk.

For course specific enquiries, please contact Kelly Hill:

• Email: klhill@cardiffmet.ac.uk